Telegraph-sounder



(No Model.)

R. O. RUTHERFORD.

TELEGRAPH SOUNDER. N0. 357,789. Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

Kemp 0 0) 5;) M gijsllsi' INVENTOR: I i -Zf/ W.

w ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. Phumumugh mv. Washinghm D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN O. RUTHERFORD, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

TELEGRAPH-'SOUNDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,789, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed May 25, 1886. Serial No. 203,231.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN O. RUTHER- FORD, of Quincy, in the county ofAdams and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loud and Secret Telegraph-Sounders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which Figure l is a plan View of my improved sounder, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 00 m in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The object of my invention is to construct a portable telegraph-sounder which may be employed for receiving telegraphic messages either directly from the line or through a relay and local circuit, the sounder being arranged so as to be capable of producing at the will of theoperator either signals audible ata distance from the instrument or very light signals capable of being heard only by the application of the instrument to the ear of the operator.

My invention consists in a sounder provided with an armature-lever carrying two hammers, and in the combination therewith ofa casing containing the sounder and provided with an adjustable resonant cover for receiving the blows of the hammer.

It also consists in an adjustable slide for regulating the strokes of the armature-lever when the instrument is arranged for producing secret signals.

The circular casing A, which contains the working parts of the instrument, is provided with an externally-screw-threaded flange, a, to which is fitted the screw-threaded rim b of the cover B. The rim 1) is of sufficient width to support the cover B a short distance from the flange a, cover B series of perforations, c, are formed in the rim Z). \Vithin the casing A is secured an electromagnet, D, of the usual description,

but made of small size and adapted to the easing A. Above the poles of the supported an armature,

magnet D is E, with one edge arand between the flange a and the (No model.)

ranged in contact with the poles of the magnet to insure the prompt action of the armature. To the ends of the armature E are secured arms d, which both project in the same direction beyond the edge of the armature, and are provided with conical cavities exactly opposite the edge of the armature for receiving the pivotal screws 6, upon which the armature turns.

The screws e are supported by brackets f, secured to the top of the flange a, and areprovided with jam-nuts g for holding them in adj ustment. The armature E carries a lever, F,

having a long arm, h, and a short arm, 2'. The

magnet D is located at one side of the center of the casing A, and the arms it 2' of the lever F project slightly above the upper edge of the casing A. The arms 10 z carry hammers j j, which are capable of being brought into contact with the inner surface of the cover B in alternation. With the armature-lever F is connected one end of a retractile spiral spring, k, the opposite end of which is connected with the threaded rod 7, which extends through the bottom of the casiugA and receives an adj usting-screw, m.

In the side of the casing A opposite the magnet D is formed a slot, at, through which projects a clamping-screw, carrying on its inner end a plate, 0, and on its outer endoutside of the casing a curved plate,p, and knob q. The plate 0 is slotted from one of its edges to receive the end of the armature-lever F, and the upper edge of the slot is inclined, making the slot wider at the open end than at the opposite end, so that by moving the plate 0 the distance through which the lever F can be moved by the armature may be varied. When the end of the armature is in the open and wider end of the slot, it is allowed to move sufficiently to give the loudest sound required for secret telegraphy, and as the plate 0 is moved forward over the lever the movement of the lever will be still more limited, and when the plate is moved so as to receive the lever in the narrow will be prevented from moving.

To the outer surface of the casing A is applied a curved slotted plate, 1', which is clamped to the side of the case by a nut, s, turning on end of the slot the lever ICO a stud, t, projecting through the slot of the plate. The plate 0' limits the movement of the plate go, so thatwhen the operator has once adjusted his instrument for secret telegraphy it may be afterward quickly shifted from such an adjustment to that required for loud sig' naling and rearranged for secret telcgraphy without readjusting the instrument.

The terminals of the magnet Dare connected with the binding-posts a a, which receive the currentthrough flexible conductors c 1;. Then electrical pulsations pass through the magnet D, the armature E is alternately attracted and released, and when the lever F is disengaged from the plate 0 every approach of the armature E to the poles of the magnet D causes the hammer j, carried by the lever F, to strike on the inner surface of the cover B, and when the armature E is released the spring It causes the lever to tilt, and brings the hammer j, carried by the shorter arm of the lever, against the inner surface of the cover B, producing a sound corresponding to the return-stroke of the arm a ture-lever in an ordinary sounder. The force of the blows of the hammer may be regulated by changing the tension of the spring 7:, and also by screwing down the cover B on the case A.

When it isdesired to shift the instrument from the adjustment required for loud signaling to that required for secret telegraphy, the slotted plate 0 is broughtinto engagement with the lever F, when the lever will alternately strike the edges of the plate above and below the slot, or will strike the inclined arm 20 at the upper side of the slot on the upstroke of the lever and strike the flange a on the back stroke.

\Vhen the instrument is used in an ofiice employing many operators, the confusion arising from the clicking of a large number of instruments may be entirely avoided by shifting the instrument from the adjustment for loud signaling to the adjustment for secret telegraphy in the manner already described,

the call-signal being received before shifting the instrument.

The apertures c in the rim of the cover B permit of the escape of sound from the interior of the case A.

v Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the electro-inagnet and armature lever carrying an armature within the influence of the magnet, of a resonant case inclosing the magnet and armaturelever, and having a resonant adjustable cover Y rigidly held at its periphery and arranged to receive the blows of the armature-lever and to protect the armature-lever and top of the magnet, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combinaiio1i,\vitl1 the armature-1evcr F, of a sliding plate, 0, having an inclined surface for regulating the stroke of the lever, substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination,with the armature-lever F and sliding plate 0, for regulating the stroke of thelever, of an adjustable stop-plate, r, substantially as herein shown and described.

4:. The combination, with the magnet D, armature E, and lever F, provided with hammers jj, of a resonant case, A, provided with the adjustable cover B, the slotted sliding plate 0, and the adjustable stop-plate a, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, in a telegraph-sounder, of an armature-lever, F, provided with hammersj j, and the easin A, having the resonant cover B, substantially as shown and described. 6. The combination, with the magnet D and armature-lever E, of the cover B, having the rim 1), provided with series of apertures c, substantially as shown and described.

REUBEN (3.. RUTHERFORD. Witnesses:

GEO. M. Horkins, O. SEDGWICK. 

